Diana Cojocari, the mother of missing North Carolina girl Madalina Cojocari, pleaded guilty to one count of failure to report a missing child. Madalina was last seen in Cornelius on November 21, 2022, when she was 12 years old. Diana and her husband, Christopher Palmiter, waited weeks to report Madalina missing to authorities. Diana may face deportation back to her home country of Moldova as she is currently in the U.S. on a green card.
Leads in the search for Madalina have taken authorities from Charlotte to the mountains of Western North Carolina, but there have been no signs of the missing girl nearly two years after her disappearance. Diana initially told school officials and the police that she hadn’t seen her daughter since she went to her bedroom following an argument with Palmiter. Palmiter had left for Michigan the following day after an argument with Diana, returning home to Cornelius several days later, only to realize Madalina was missing.
Both Diana and Palmiter were arrested for failing to report a missing child, with Palmiter being released on bail in August while Diana remains in custody. Madalina’s grandmother, Rodica Cojocari, believes her granddaughter is alive but has been kidnapped, accusing Palmiter of trafficking Diana and Madalina. Search warrants revealed that Diana and Rodica had contacted a distant relative to help them “smuggle” Diana and Madalina from their home in Cornelius, suggesting Diana was in a troubled relationship with Palmiter and wished to divorce.
Authorities continue to ask for information regarding Madalina’s whereabouts, urging anyone with information to contact the Cornelius Police Department. The case has garnered significant media attention, with a new photo of Madalina being released by the police. The search for Madalina has taken law enforcement officials around North Carolina in hopes of finding any clues that may lead to her safe return. Despite the efforts, there have been no concrete leads in the case nearly two years after her disappearance.
The plea deal in which Diana Cojocari admitted to failure to report a missing child has raised questions about the circumstances surrounding Madalina’s disappearance. The parents’ decision to wait weeks before reporting Madalina missing has drawn criticism, as law enforcement officials move forward in their investigation to uncover the truth behind the 11-year-old girl’s disappearance. The case has sparked public interest and concern, with many hoping for a resolution that will bring Madalina home safely.
As the investigation continues, authorities are appealing to the public for any information that could help in locating Madalina. The lack of leads and the passage of time since her disappearance have made the search increasingly challenging, but law enforcement officials remain committed to finding out what happened to Madalina Cojocari. The case highlights the importance of reporting missing children promptly and cooperating with law enforcement to ensure a swift and thorough investigation.
